Roger Munoz

I'm Roger, I love in Southern California. I've owned my 2005 SL500 for many years, and when I think I'm ready to move onto something else, I drive it with the top down and those feeling quickly depart.

I am although in need of input from anyone that's experienced intermittent instrument cluster failure.

Issue: Cluster lights up like a Christmas tree, beeps and then settles down and functions as if nothing ever happened. Some days nothing, others no gauges no matter what I do. Headlights flicker on and off.

Work performed: New batteries, alternator checked and working fine. Voltage/amps all within specifics. Fuses replaced. Still nothing resolved.

I'm told that the circuit board is going bad. Replacement cluster MUST be same year and within 6 months, preferably 4 months of vehicle manufacture date (Nov 2004). Needle in a haystack apparently will be easier to find.

Anyone with a similar experience and what was your solution? I love this car, but dealer is talking a small fortune to repair a 14 year old vehicle.

Thanks everyone. Great topics and solutions. Much appreciated.

Roger

speedlimit

Welcome! Moved to R230.

bobterry99

This could be a faulty ignition switch or, in theory, it could be a poor electrical connection at the fuse supplying the "ignition on" signal to the cluster (fuse 21). If the problem is the switch, I suppose this may cause an "Event" to be logged in one or more control modules, but I have not checked if this is possible. You could check Star Diagnosis' complete list of fault and event codes.

I just replaced the cluster in a car, and I believe the cluster date of manufacture was completely immaterial. What did matter was the odometer. I don't recall the details, but provided the replacement cluster had a lower mileage there was no issue with it assuming the higher mileage of the cluster it replaced.

Roger Munoz

Bobterry99,

Thank you for the quick response. This helps. I had the fuses all checked, but it's worth revisiting again. I mentioned to my mechanic regarding the ignition switch, I think I might as well replace it, it's starting to get stuck and I'm concerned one of these days, I won't be able to extract the key from the ignition switch. Thanks again

moretech

If you replace it let us know if that was the fix.

moretech

Ghostty

Sounds exactly what I've been through. It will get worse with time.

You'll find everything about my case here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...t-nowhere.html

It was an bad ignition switch indeed. I took my to the dealer- just a little under 1k. But problem solved.


Regards